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McDonald's lovin' hip-hop look for uniforms
Chicago Sun-Times ^ | 7/6/2005 | Eric Herman

Posted on 07/06/2005 7:22:42 AM PDT by Mike Bates

Would you like fashion with your fries?

Ramping up its bid for a hipper, more youthful image, McDonald's plans to hire top designers to remake its uniforms. The Oak Brook-based hamburger giant recently hired a marketing whiz with ties to the hip-hop community and is contemplating deals with fashion figures ranging from Sean "P. Diddy" Combs to Tommy Hilfiger.

"It would be pretty cool if our employees liked their uniforms so much that they would also want to wear them while they were not working," said McDonald's spokesman Bill Whitman.

McDonald's successful "I'm lovin' it" ad campaign, launched in 2003, used hip-hop music and images of with-it youngsters to broaden the Golden Arches' popularity. Justin Timberlake and Destiny's Child both recorded the "I'm lovin' it" jingle.

SNIP

McDonald's has hired Steve Stoute to guide its fashion quest. Stoute, who started his own entertainment marketing firm, has brokered several partnerships between pop stars and corporations, pairing rapper Jay-Z with Reebok for a new line of shoes, and forging a deal between Hilfiger and Beyonce Knowles for a new perfume. Stoute also brought Timberlake and Destiny's Child aboard for the "I'm lovin' it" campaign.

In redesigning the uniforms, Stoute said he would solicit proposals from Russell Simmons' Phat Farm, Combs' Sean John label, Jay-Z's Rocawear, American Eagle Outfitters, Abercrombie & Fitch, Ralph Lauren's Polo and Giorgio Armani. McDonald's will put one new design in use at a time, but change the look from time to time.

"We're going to work with more than one designer. We're going to keep it current and fresh," Stoute said.

The new uniforms could cost McDonald's as much as $80 million, according to AdAge.com. Whitman said the project was in the early stages and the company had not started negotiations with any designers.

(Excerpt) Read more at suntimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: business; culture; fastfood; gregdahammerwilliams; mckneecrotchpants; mcpimpsandmchos; mcthugs; outfits; puffdadddy; puffdaddysaysgreg; rap; youwantfrieswiththat
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To: tscislaw

lol, ok not EVERYONE. but a large number of people bought into the fad.


41 posted on 07/06/2005 8:09:54 AM PDT by Zeppelin (If we lose the war on terror... http://www.ebaumsworld.com/waronterrorism.html)
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To: Mike Bates
signifyin'.

LOL! You owes me one 'kee-boad mutha fu_kaaah!

42 posted on 07/06/2005 8:10:42 AM PDT by johnny7 (“Hey ma.... top of the world!” -Jody Garrett)
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To: Mike Bates

Hip-hop has just jumped the shark.


43 posted on 07/06/2005 8:11:56 AM PDT by oblomov
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To: johnny7

I DID manage to understand part of your message. Yep, that part. :)


44 posted on 07/06/2005 8:14:40 AM PDT by Mike Bates (Irish Alzheimer's victim: I only remember the grudges.)
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To: Mike Bates
"It would be pretty cool if our employees liked their uniforms so much that they would also want to wear them while they were not working," said McDonald's spokesman Bill Whitman.

I'm sure they'll be "lov'in it" when we see the first picture of a robbery or hold up by someone wearing a hip-hop McDonalds uniform.

Perhaps they should just tell their employees that it's OK to wear their pants around their knees showing their rse crack to customers.

45 posted on 07/06/2005 8:17:25 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: Mike Bates
in keeping with the theme, change the name from drive through to drive by.

good one!

46 posted on 07/06/2005 8:18:24 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: GraniteStateConservative

Can I get a credit for a link though? maybe partial credit :)


47 posted on 07/06/2005 8:18:27 AM PDT by SShultz460
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To: newcthem
half of the drugs sold come thru McDonalds.

I bet if they ring them up and charge taxes no one will care.

48 posted on 07/06/2005 8:21:40 AM PDT by numberonepal (Don't Even Think About Treading On Me)
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To: Mike Bates
"...with ties to the hip-hop community..

Hmmm, they're contemplating the McSag britches, McDroop tops, and McSneakers.

49 posted on 07/06/2005 8:23:12 AM PDT by azhenfud ("He who is always looking up seldom finds others' lost change...")
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To: Mike Bates

I can't stand the new ad campaign either.

Doubly-so since I ordered a Big Mac and when I sat down to eat it I started reading the box.

On the side it said, "I've got a jones for a Big Mac".

WTF, over?


50 posted on 07/06/2005 8:23:28 AM PDT by VeniVidiVici (In God We Trust. All Others We Monitor.)
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To: Lockbar

"Dear McDonalds: Thank you for giving me another reason to avoid your greasy junk."

You got that right. I avoid this hip hop rap crap all I can.


51 posted on 07/06/2005 8:23:44 AM PDT by caver (Yes, I did crawl out of a hole in the ground.)
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To: Mike Bates

http://www.americanangst.com/dingfries.html What more is there to say?


52 posted on 07/06/2005 8:25:27 AM PDT by NTW64
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To: rwfromkansas

I agree with you 1000%. What is the deal with cherry pies? I love 'em, too. Krystal is just as bad; I go in and they have a warmer with cherry pies on the sign, but nooooo -- we only have apple!!

I hope somebody out there can solve this mystery, seriously. Maybe American workers are unwilling or unable to grow cherries or something.

When I run for Congress, I WILL investigate this crisis.


53 posted on 07/06/2005 8:25:47 AM PDT by GadareneDemoniac
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To: Mike Bates

So, is McDonald's giving up their slave name, to go along with the thug look?


54 posted on 07/06/2005 8:26:45 AM PDT by surely_you_jest
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To: SShultz460
Can I get a credit for a link though? maybe partial credit :)

No. You should know everything about that movie. It's right up there with Citizen Kane and Casablanca as the greatest films of all time.

55 posted on 07/06/2005 8:27:47 AM PDT by GraniteStateConservative (...He had committed no crime against America so I did not bring him here...-- Worst.President.Ever.)
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To: surely_you_jest

Maybe they'll look at that with the NEXT $80 million they have to waste.


56 posted on 07/06/2005 8:28:19 AM PDT by Mike Bates (Irish Alzheimer's victim: I only remember the grudges.)
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To: Mike Bates

We're going to work with more than one designer. We're going to keep it current and fresh," Stoute said

Then why hip-hop which is said "so over"


57 posted on 07/06/2005 8:31:45 AM PDT by School of Rational Thought (Republican - The thinking people's party)
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To: GadareneDemoniac

I will vote for you...lol.

I may have to ask McDonald's what happened to their cherry pies. They used to at least be available in some stores. I swear I can't find them anywhere now.

Yet they are still on the stupid menu.


58 posted on 07/06/2005 9:53:32 AM PDT by rwfromkansas (http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=rwfromkansas)
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To: L98Fiero

The fact is that black folks have more of a tendency to waste their money on frivolous things than whites. McD's is well aware of that and exploits it in their marketing.


59 posted on 07/06/2005 10:01:54 AM PDT by Mulch (tm)
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To: Mulch

I've noticed that with similar products as well. As you said, mostly frivilous, disposable income-type items. Don't get me started on the pre-paid cell phones.


60 posted on 07/06/2005 10:52:19 AM PDT by L98Fiero
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